Frogless switch.



J. 0. BOWMASTER.

FROGLESS SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 31, 191 2 1 ,075,087 Patented Oct. 7, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

awuemlioz q vblmcooeo COLUMBIA PLANOGRAIH CH .WASHIN(ZTON. n. c.

J. 0. BOWMASTER.

FEOGLESS SWITCH. APPLIGATION FILED 001.31, 1912.

I1 9% G87, Patented 0017,1913. 9 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO..WASHINGTON. D. c.

lll lllTED STATES PATENT OFFlfiE.

JOHN OSCAR BOWMASTER, OF ROCKHILL FURNACE, PENNSYLVANIA.

FROGLESS SVI'ITCH.

Application filed October 31, 1912.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that 1, JOHN O. BOWMASTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rockhill Furnace, in the county of Huntingdon and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Frogless Switches; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in frogless railway switches.

One object of the invention is to provide a frogless railway switch having an improved construction and arrangement of swinging rail section at the point where the switch rail crosses the main rail and which takes the place of the frog usually located at this point.

Another object is to provide an improved locking mechanism for the swinging rail section actuated by and simultaneously with the switch operating mechanism whereby the swinging rail section is positively fastened when brought into line with the main or switch rails.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, and the combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a main line and switch rails showing the application of the invention and illustrating the switch closed and the swinging rail section in line with the main track rail; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the switch open and the swinging rail section in line with the switch rail; Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan View of a portion of the main and switch rails and the switch operating mechanism; Fig. at is a sectional view taken on the line 4% of Fig. 3 and illustrating in side elevation the parts as shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of a portion or the main and switch rails and the swinging rail section showing the latter in line with the main track rail; Fig. 7 is a similar View showing the swinging rail section in line with the switch rail; Fig. 8 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a vertical cross sectional view Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 7, 1913.

Serial No. 728,901.

taken on the line 99 of Fig. 6; Fig. 10 is a similar View taken on the line 1010 of Fig. 6; Fig. 11 is an irregular vertical cross sec tional View taken on the line 1l11 of Fig. 6.

Referring more particularly to the drawings 1 denotes the main track and 2 denotes the switch track to which my improved switch is applied. The ends of one section of the main track rails adjacent to the points where the ends of the switch rails terminate are loose to form swinging switch members 3 which are adapted to be swung or shifted across the ties to bring the same into alinement with the main track rails as shown in Fig. 1 or into alinement with the switch track rails as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. At the point where the inner switch rail crosses the outer main track rail and where the usual switch frog is located I provide a swinging rail section 4. which is adapted to be turned or swung to bring the same into alinement with the main track rail or with the switch track rail as is also clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and 6 and 7 of the drawings.

The swinging rail section 4 is of suitable length and is removably secured to a turntable or oscillating plate 5 by means of clips 6 which are bolted to the turntable and to the rail section so that by simply removing the bolts which fasten the rail section to the clips 6 said rail section may be readily slipped out when worn and a new rail section substituted on the turntable. The turntable 5 is in the form of a circular plate having on its under side a de pending circular boss 7 which fits into and is revolubly engaged with a circular opening or seat 8 in a rail supporting plate 9 which is secured to the ties and supports the rail section i and the ends of the adj acent main and switch track rails. The turntable 5 is further held in re'voluble engagement with the supporting plate 9 by segmental undercut or rabbetted cleats 10 which are secured to the base plate 9 in position to engage the opposite side edges of the turntable plate 5 as shown. In order to more firmly support the swinging rail section 4 the turntable plate 5 may be provided with projections 11 which extend in opposite directions beneath and to the ends of the rail section 4 and thereby support the latter throughout its entire length as clearly indicated in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings. The

extensions 11 of the plate 5 are provided with rail engaging lugs 12, similar lugs 13 also being arranged on the plate 5 adjacent to the ends of the rail fastening clips 6.

The ends of the main and switch track rails with which one end of the swinging rail section 4 is engaged are spaced a suitable distance and are bolted to a spacing block 14 and said ends of the track rails are fastened to the adjacent end of the supporting plate 9 by rail fastening lugs or members 15, said fastening members also forming stops with which this end of the swinging rail section is engaged when the latter is brought into alinement with the main and switch track rails. The main and switch track rails at the opposite end of r the supporting plate 9 and swinging rail section 4 are also secured to said plate 9 by fastening members 16 which serve as stops for this end of the swinging rail section 4 when the latter is brought into alinement with said main and switch track rails.

Any suitable switch throwing or operating mechanism may be provided for operating my improved switch and said mechanism may be operated by steam or other fluid pressure or may be operated manually as shown in the present instance. The manually operated switch throwing mechanism herein shown comprises a hand lever 17 which is pivotally connected at its lower end to a bearing bracket 18 secured to one of the ties which is extended laterally beyond the side of the track as shown. The lever 17 is connected by a rod 19 to a link 2-0 pivoted to one corner of a triangular plate or bell crank lever 21 which in turn is pivoted to a supporting plate 22 secured to the ties as shown. In the plate or bell crank lever 21 is formed a segmental slot 23 which is ar ranged concentric to the pivotal connection of said plate and engages a guide stud 24 secured in the plate 22. The purpose of the plate or bell crank lever 21 will be herein after described. The link 20 to which the rod 19 is connected has also connected thereto one end of a switch throwing rod 25 the opposite end of which is connected to the adjacent swinging rail member 3, said rail member being connected by aconnect-ing bar 26 to the opposite rail member 3 where by when the lever 17 is swung in one direction or the other said swinging rail ends or switch members 3 will be shifted back and forth into engagement with the adjoining sections of the main rail or with the ends of the switch rail as clearly indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

The free end of the plate or bell crank lever 21 opposite to that to which the link 20 is attached has secured thereto one end of a connecting rod or link 27 which extends back a suitable distance along the main track and is secured at its opposite end to a second triangular plate or bell crank lever 28 which is pivotally mounted on a supporting plate 29 secured to the ties as clearly shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The plate or lever 28 has therein a segmental guide slot 30 with which is engaged a gulde stud 31 secured to the plate 29 as shown. The free end of the plate or lever 28 opposite to that to which the rod 27 is attached has attached thereto one end of an operating rod 32 which passes beneath the adjacent main track rail and has its inner end pivotally connected to the adjacent end of the swinging rail section 4. By providing the swinging rail section 4 with the operating mechanism herein shown and described, it will be seen that when the hand lever 17 is swung in one direction or the other to shift the loose ends 3 of the main rail into alinement with the adjoining ends of the main or switch rails, the movable rail section 4 will be correspondingly shifted to bring the same into line with either the main or switch track rails at the point where these rails would cross so that a continuous main or switch rail is provided at this point thus enabling the wheels of the rolling stock to pass freely and smoothly over this part of the main or switch rail and obviate all danger of the wheels running onto the wrong track rails as well as dispensing with the jarring and noise which is occasioned by the passage of the wheels over the frog connection usually employed at this point in the rails.

In order to fasten or rigidly hold the swinging switch section 4 in its adjusted position or when brought into line with the main or switch rails I provide a locking mechanism comprising a bolt 33 which is slidably mounted on a plate 34 secured be tween the ends of the main and switch track rails and at the end of the swinging rail section 4 to which the operating rod 32 is attached. The bolt 33 has therein a longitudinal slot 35 with which is engaged a guide stud 36 secured to the plate 34 and carrying at its upper end a guiding plate 37. WVhen thus arranged the bolt 33 is adapted to be projected beyond the adjacent ends of the main and switch track rails and into engagement with one side or the other of the adjacent end of the swinging rail section 4 thereby securely holding the latter against a stop 16 and in alinement with either the main or switch track rail as is clearly indicated in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings. The bolt 33 is projected and held in projected position by a suitable operating mechanism comprising a rock shaft 33 which is mounted in suitable bearings 39 secured to one of the ties adjacent to the outer end of the bolt. 7

On the inner end of the shaft. 38 is a short crank arm 40 which is connected by a link 41 to the outer end of the bolt 33. On the opposite end of the shaft 38 is also formed a short crank arm 42 which is connected by an operating rod 43 to a short crank arm 44 on the inner end of a second rock shaft 45 which is mounted in suitable bearing brackets 46 secured to the extended tie on which the hand lever 17 is mounted. On the rock shaft 45 are also arranged short crank arms 47 having on their outer ends locking bails or loops 48 which when the shaft 45 is rocked in the proper direction for projecting the bolt 33 are engaged with staples or apertured locking plates 49 se cured in the extended tie in line with the movement of the hand lever 17 which when swung downwardly in one direction or the other is brought upon the bails or loops 48 of the crank arms 47 thereby forcing the bail or loop with which the same is engaged downwardly over its staple 49 and also rocking the shaft 45. The movement of the shaft 45 when thus rocked is imparted to the rock shaft 38 and through the latter to the bolt 33 thereby projecting said bolt to an operative position for holding the swinging rail section 4 in either of its adjusted positions. In order to permit the hand lever 17 to obtain a firmer bearing or engagement with the ends of the crank arms 47 of the rock shaft 45, said lever is preferably provided with an offset arm engaging plate 50 having therein a passage 51 which is adapted to receive the staples or fastening members 49 with which the bails 48 of the levers 47 are engaged, said staples projecting up through the opening 51 a suflicient distance to receive a padloc 52 or other suitable fastening mechanism whereby the lever and the bolt 33 are locked in the positions to which they have been swung for operating and locking the switch devices. In order to retract the bolt 33 when the hand lever 17 is shifted and disengaged from the crank arms 47 of the rock shaft 45 I provide'a coiled bolt retracting spring 53 one end of which is secured to the crank arm 42 on the outer end of the rock shaft 38 and the other end of which is secured to one of the ties or other fixed support whereby the tension of the spring will rock the shaft 38 when released by the shifting of the hand lever, said shaft 33 thus retracting the bolt 33 as will be readily understood. The operating rods 27 and 43 are preferably formed in sections the adjacent ends of which are threaded to receive turn buckles 54 whereby these rods may be adjusted to the proper length.

With the above construction, the operation is as follows: With the parts standing as seen in Figs. 1, 4, and 6 and the main line clear and the swinging rail section locked, when the hand lever 17 is raised at the beginning of its movement to the position shown in Fig. 2 its plate 50 first rises off of the outermost crank arm 47 before the pivotal point of the rod 19 in the lever 17 has risen from behind the bracket far enough to begin the movement of the switch points 3. When said arm 47 is free, the spring 53 moves all parts connected with the bolt 33 and the latter is retracted so that the rail section can swing, The latter is so moved as the hand lever 17 continues to rise and passes over to the position shown in Fig. 2, and just before reaching that position the plate 50 depresses the other or inner crank arm 47 and projects the bolt to the opposite side of the rail section as seen in Fig. 7. Here the pivotal point between the rod 19 and the lever 17 has passed over to the left of the bracket 18 (see Fig. 4) and the switch points 3 have been moved completely to the position shown in Fig. 2, before the plate 50 strikes the inner crank arm 47 and actuates the bolt projecting mechanism. The forward or rearward movement of said bolt will be quickly accomplished because said crank arms 47 are short, whereas it is customary for the hand lever of the switch arm to be from two to three feet in length and the plate is disposed at quite a distance from its pivotal connection with the lever. It follows that at the beginning or toward the close of the movement of this hand lever from one extreme to the other, the horizontal movement of the rod 19 and the switch points 3 connected therewith is not taking place. Moreover, the relatively long hand lever 17 swings in a plane transverse to the rail, whereas the relatively short crank arms 47 swing in planes parallel with the rail and at right angles to said first-named plane, and therefore it is necessary for the hand lever to make only a slight-upward movement before it frees the short lever 47 which its plate 50 is holding down. Lest occasion should occur when this would not take place, I preferably depress the tip of each lever 47 as seen at 47 in Fig. 5 so ghait it will clear this hand lever 17 without From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a switch, the combination with the main and switch rails whose contiguous ends are separated, a supporting plate underlying said ends and projecting beyond them, and segmental guides secured upon said plate and spaced from each other at their extremities; of a swinging rail section coacting with said contiguous ends, a circular plate whose edges engage said guides, an integral extension from this plate passing between the spaced ends of the guide and underlying aid rail-section, and meansfor securing the latter upon said extension.

2. In a frogless switch, the combination with the switch actuating mechanism the main and switch rails whose contiguous ends are separated where these rails would cross, a supporting plate underlying said ends, and segmental guides secured to said plate; of a swinging rail section loosely disposed between said contiguousends, a turn table comprising a circular plate whose edges engage said guides, and integral lateral extensions from said plate passing between the spaced ends of the guides and underlying said rail section, lugs on such extensions and plate engaging the base of the railsection, and connections between said section and the actuating mechanism.

3. In a frogless switch, thecombination with the main and witch rails having their contiguous ends separated where they would cross, a swinging rail section between said separated ends, the switch points, and the switch-operating mechanism including a relatively long hand lever pivoted at one end to a base and carrying a plate near its handle; of a pivotal support for said rail section, connections between the operating mechanism and rail section for swinging the latter, a spring-retracted bolt for locking said section in either of its extreme positions, a rock shaft lying alongside said handlever and having laterally projecting and relatively short'crank arms so disposed as to be struck by said plate when the hand lever is thrown to either extreme position, and connections between said rock shaft and bolt.

4. In a frogless switch, the combination section in either of its extreme positions, a rock shaft lylng alongside said hand lever and having laterally pro]ect1ng relatively short crank arms so disposed as tounderlie the plate and the hand lever in either extreme position, said arms having loops near their outer end and the plate being perforated to overlie said loops, staples adapted to be engaged by the loops and perforations and to receive alock, and connections between said rock shaft and bolt.

5. In a switch, the combination with the swinging rail section and switch points, a hand lever pivoted at one end to a base and carrying a plate near its other end, a rod pivotally connected with the lever near the pivot of the latter, and connections be tween said rod and the rail section and points; of a lock for said section, a rock shaft lying alongside said lever and connected with said lock, and relatively short crank arms projecting from said rock shaft at right angles to the plane in which said lever moves and underlying such lever, the tips of these crank arms being depressed, for the purpose et forth.

In testimony whereof I havehereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN OSCAR BOWMASTER.

Witnesses:

JAMES G. MURPHY, A. Soo'r'r MADDEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. i 

